Norway Killer Gets 21 Yrs. Max, Could Be Out in 10

Reading the comment it looks like CNN misreported the story. Apparently it just means he will be reviewed for parole after 21, but they can keep extending his sentence indefinitely.

 

To clear up some misconceptions regarding the sentence:

Breivik is sentenced to 21 years of custody, as opposed to 21 years of prison.

The two differ in that a prison sentence is time-limited. Usually with more or less automatic parole after 2/3 of time served. A custody sentence on the other hand, reserved for the most violent criminals, is not time-limited.

Due to the peculiarities of Norwergian law, that is focused more on rehabilitation than retribution, all sentences must have a minimum and maximum time. The former being roughly half of the latter. The intent is that if a convicted criminal displays good behaviour, learns a trade and functions well within the system, the parole review-board can then after minimum time is served release the prisoner. Usually with some follow-up and a string of conditions.

This minimum-maximum time is mandatory in any judgement that result in prison or custody. And it is pretty safe to assume that in Breiviks case, it is merely a formality. Since he is sentenced to 10 to 21 years of custody, even after the 21 years are served, his release wil be contingent upon a court hearing judging him no longer a threat to society. Failing that, he will remain in custody for 5 years more. After those 5 years, another court hearing is held, and another 5 years custody might be added. And so on.

So there is no set release date, and Breivik could in effect be imprisoned for the remainder of his life. Or at least until he is so old, sick and/or frail that he pose no threat to society.

 

I was really pissed when I saw the title

Then after reading that explaination I'm a little less pissed. Thanks for clearing that up

 

Didn't he kill all of those people to protest against Muslims moving into Europe?

 

The Norwegian people have handled such a monumental tragedy with such dignity and care.

I hope someday that Breivik will understand the meaningless pain he has caused.

 

this man was not "insane", i hate how people can commit these terrible acts and just claim insanity in court so they can possibly slip away from the harsh deadly punishment they deserve.

this man planned out his attack, he was part of a neo-crusader group, its clear what his intuition was, he knew what the was going to do, he didnt just lose his mind one day and decide to kill 77 people.

this disgusts me...because i dont think he'll ever learn his lesson

 

He was deemed to be in charge of all his faculties by the court, so he was not found insane by any legal means. Though it is obvious he got some psychological defect (then again, what murderers don't?), the court did not find it severe enough to warrant an insanity verdict and indefinite treatment in a secure asylum.

...and he wasn't a member of any group. By all accounts, he acted alone. From planning, financing and performing the deeds, nothing points towards any outside help.

Now, that he himself have some delusions of grandeur, with wild claims and a fetish for elaborate uniforms is another matter.

Partly. Though not only muslims, all immigration really. And a laundry list of other pet-issues he harboured. Basically blaming everything on the social-democrats who's been one of the major parties that have shaped Norway into what it is today. Arguably one of the better countries to live in on the entire planet. Not perfect by any means, but I can imagine a lot worse places to grow up and grow old

 

Norway has good salmon, that's always a ++++++

 

...and no salmonella. So one can enjoy those soft or medium boiled eggs without risking a day or two on the porcelain throne

 

I actually like Norwegian law and their penal code, its ten times better than the US's thats for sure.

 

It do have its merits, but also its flaws. Though all said and done, I think it more productive and beneficial than more harsh regimes.

Here, the conditions of the imprisonment by and large fit the crime. The terms can become more lenient or stringent depending on the convicts behaviour and progress towards a law-abiding life outside the prison.

So on one end of the scale, you got open prisons, where convicts are locked down during the night, but after breakfast go to school/college or work outside the prison and have to be back at their own recognicanse by a given curfew time. They also get some weekends off at regular intervals. To visit friends and family.

Some short sentences can even be served on weekends only. So they live their usual routine monday morning to friday afternoon. Living at home, going to work or school/college. Come friday afternoon, report to the (usually open, ie no fences) prison to stay for the weekend.

On the other end of the scale there is high-security prisons, and within these even higher security wards, including solitary confinement areas.

So the penal system is quite differentiated around here, to better make use of resources for one thing, and to better prepare the majority of convicts for life outside.

But as it happens, prisons here in Norway are under a bit of pressure at the time. There is very few vacancies, very little room to spare. Resulting in dangerous criminals being released too early or put in a facility with too little security for the sole reason that there is a lack of prison-cells. More must be built, but as usual the state is dragging its heels, like in just about any other sector of public service. Apart from the revenue-service naturally